Publicis and Omnicom merger creates scramble for clients

A plan to merge Publicis and Omnicom into the world’s biggest advertising group has begun a scramble by rivals to poach their blue-chip clients worried the new agency might face conflicts of interest.

Without any defections, the Franco-US giant would bring the accounts of major competitors in a number of industries such as Apple and Samsung, or Coca Cola and PepsiCo, under one roof.

Publicis boss Maurice Levy and Omnicom’s John Wren spoke to some of their biggest clients before the €26.5bn deal was announced on Sunday, and made further calls yesterday to reassure them they will be better served by the new group.